Butterfly
The butterfly game… why the name?
Author: HotForWords
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Well, your translation is right, so ill go for number 3.
Didn’t know that a couple of English words have there origin from Dutch, nowadays its the other way around.
dats and cogs (you were spooney)….poopsey?
great dance moves, “float like a butterfly”
theory 3
i think theory number 1 is correct!!
Dear teacher
This one was published before i began to come to your website. What a pity! I missed something!
Amicalement
Don Felipe
id bet on theory number 1
i think its theory number 3
Dear marina I am not getting emails when they are posted. I love the outfit you wore at the end of butterfly vido you look very sexy. Hugs and kisses to the teacher.
I what you wore at the end of the butterfly is very sexy
Marina,
I think you should watch your language since many youngs ears and eyes do visit your web page and see you on youtube. You are such a delight, you do not need to embellish it with profanities. Your sense of humor is just fine without being vulgar.
oxoxoxox
The last one is the correct answer butt-sh*t at least it’s a certain as it can be.
Hey Marina..
Tried to look the word up myself and found a couple of theories on the word butterfly.
But 2 things came up on a lot of sites.
The one about boterschijte,
and one that people belived that witches disguised themselves as butterflies to steal butter.
I really think it is hard to believe that anyone would notice the color of the insects excrements at that time.
So my guess is that #2 is correct.
Didn’t find anything on the spoonerism though, but who knows, maybe its the correct one hehe
Where do you give the answer?
My next video
Hello my dear teacher.
I think the origin is because of the poop of the butterfly and it is not a spoonerism.
I wonder about the word Butter though
None of the above. More than likely it arose due to the common color of the little flying critters around homes in the region where the word ‘buterflege’ originated around 700 AD.
Prior to dyes being added to butter it was light cream colored…
I like the theory about the spoonerism.
Best spoonerism I’ve heard was when the chef Jamie Oliver accidentally referred to Brad and Angelina’s baby Shiloh Pitt, as ‘Pile O’ Shit”.
Couldn’t find anything for ‘broke a butterfly on the wheel’, or, ‘the butterfly that broke the wheel’
Its supposed to a saying or idiom
Now what I want to know is was it really African Swallowtail Butterflies that carried coconuts to temperate zones…..
Marina,
Why the use of the F word and the S word?
Your videos have been really nice, up to now. Don’t ruin them!
Harasho?
Okay, of the three options given I will choose number 2, though I am a fan of the theory that certain European butterflies (Sulfurs) are a yellowish butter color.
Also, do we get bonus point for noticing that you only held up two fingers when you say you are going to give us 3 theories?
Just curious because I love bonus points almost as much as I love your site. Thanks.
I think she usually extends her thumb, too. Two fingers and one thumb.
Hi Marina
I think I just found my favourite place on the internet. Finally a site that is very pleasant to watch and learn from. Good work.
Ok I have a few requests if I may. The words are Wool, Piston and jealousy.
I checked the list and they are not there.
Thank you
I have come to use Discombobulated. What does this word mean exactly? Ive always wondered how this ever became a word, or where i might have picked it up from.
Excellent site by the way! Im excited to be a member! 5 stars
Marina,
I love your work. As a fellow teacher and a man in uniform, I can say what you have done with you work is profound, inspiring, and motivates me to learn. I am currently working on a course of instruction to teach my fellow Navy men to Navigate Submarines. So my question is, why the word “Navigation” and not some other term?
Thank you,
Toby
Hey, Marina –
Question: can you post a “recommended reading” section, to give us some suggested books on philology, etymology, etc?
Thanks,
Eric
testing gravatar…1, 3, 2….
Cool. It works.
I have one Marina
its Agonquin id like to know its origin please thanks
Ok, Marina, just wondering how this term for a sleeveless shirt came ot be; a wife beater.
Just curious, ~SolenmSerpent
gravatar test
I’m requesting “holy cow”. Please put me out of my misery and let me know the origin.
Word request:
A couple of people I work with constantly use the word ‘crimony’.
For example: “Aw, crimony, I left it at my desk.” or “Crimony! I just smashed my finger.”
What is the origin of this word?
BTW: Kepp up the good work, I love your videos and emails from you!
Hello marina, i recently watched some of your videos, and ur lessons are kind of interresting ^^
i have a request…
“dogma”
i mean … How is that something bad and something good?
and why is it dogma?
Hi there Hot for words,I have a long word for you; “supercalafirgalisticaliidosis” I’m not sure if I spelled it right,my spellcheck could not find any suggestions thank you “kind regards Mario”
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and it’s on her list! Up above click on “Lessons” and look under S, it’s there
Hi there, Marina. Big fan of your videos here, and first time posting.
I absolutely love your idea of joining sex appeal with education, and you do it so well. 
Anyways, I myself have a word suggestion for you. I hope I’m not going too forward with this, but how about what is probably the most basic and used of all the English cuss words? Fuck? I’ve heard somewhere that it is an abbreviation of “Fornication Under Consent of the King”, but that’s probably a false idea. I’d love if you could investigate on this word. I’m sure most people would like the idea. I think I’ve even seen this suggestion given to you before. Anyways, I hope you’ll consider it.
Keep up the good work, Marina. Oh, and I vote for #3.
Listen to her #2 Maxim show! She tells about the word fuck there.
N E V E N
This is a name but could you find out what it means N E V E N PLEASES!!!!
Just checking to see if my gravatar has any gravitas yet.
I don’t have any spoonerisms to share, but I am curious now as to the origin of the word ’spoonerism’. Why no ‘forkerism’ or ‘kniferism’? Why, I even wonder if the word ’spork’ counts as a spoonerism. A sporkerism, maybe?
I prefer Bushisms to spoonerisms. The current president has a bizarre knack for butchering the English language, and many of his most flubbed lines have been collected en masse and called ‘Bushisms’.
My two favorite Bushisms revolve around his educational views. Early in his presidency, Bush was famously known for saying “Is our children learning?”. And, just this year, Bush answered his own Bushism with another Bushism by stating in a speech “Yes, childrens do learn.”. Just to re-iterate…
Q: Is our children learning?
A: Yes, childrens do learn.
I suppose a Bushism could be regarded as a ’silver spoonerism’, but that’s stretching a premise.
Anyway, I’m just killing time until my gravatar is ready. With any luck, my gravatar should appear next to this comment.
Sure does! Looks great. whatever it is!
It’s my rainbow peace sign tattoo, Marina. I altered the gravatar now so that it will be more discernible. ‘Guess the Gravatar’ sounds like a fun game, but I thought I’d make it clearer with a little better cropping. I appreciate that you didn’t know if it was art, but you liked it.
When I hear ‘looks great’ I can’t help but try to make it look even greater… especially when it’s our trusty teacher handing out the compliments. 
btw, I had to get my own gravatar just because the word ‘gravatar’ is so cool. It’s obviously based on the word ‘avatar’, a word that has a new definition in the internet age as any sort of online visual symbol representing one’s offline self.
I have mainly learned the modern meaning of avatar via the virtual reality community known as Second Life. I also bring up Second Life because I am curious if hotforwords has any sort of presence there. It is basically another multimedia outlet online (like myspace or youtube). I don’t know if it’s something worth investing in, but it’s definitely something worth looking into. Second Life does have some very interesting promotional aspects to it, but it is still up in the air whether Second Life is really all that effective of a promotional tool. While I’ve had fun with my avatars on SL, I’ve having just as much fun with my gravatars on HFW! Speaking of, I’m going to add more gravatars to my account so I can start varying them up more. Why, I’ve become HotForGravatars! lol
My favorite Bushism is “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They are always coming up with new ways to harm our people and our country, and so are we.”
Comment on “on the Fritz” which means “not working.”
Working fine for me, what’s specifically wrong?
OH LOL you are requesting the word “fritz” to be a lesson LOL Just realized that when I hit “Submit” on my reply.
So funny.. .I like your gravatar
Thanks it’s actually supposed to be animated, with the cat’s eyes flashing red and yellow rapidly.
Here it is, larger size and animated.
http://absolutegroundzero.com/cathissani.gif
‘There are three ways to spell the word \tu\ in the English language.’
Huh um… I’d say you’d be best to use the pronunciation key out of the dictionary, and say like
There are three ways to spell the word pronounced “too” in the English language.
I got that pronunciation from dictionary.com, so which dictionary you use may of course change your ‘pronunciation’ spelling.
If i had to choose one it would be A but its all good the butterfly doesnt know the differnce.
RED
Pussycat… Could you detail the origin, please?
Oh btw I reckon it to be the Spoonerism
Greetings,
I was pondering the origin of the word rhapsody and wondered if it was the origin of rap (as in music or “…suddenly I heard a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door…”). Maybe its French.
Yours in text x
I like the butterflies found on the butter left overnight the most. Whether its true or not pretty much means “butterschijst” to me.
On another note, I have noticed that at times when I am having a difficult time in a relationship with someone, usually of the opposite sex, I find that when she is truly on my mind and my heart is hurting, I see a butterfly. There is a line in a song that has a young woman telling her ex-boyfriend that whenever he sees a butterfly, that it means that she too is thinking of him. i hold true to that belief and will take it to the grave. It would be cool to get a response from you about that. As for the spoonerism I nbelieve that is the hint as to the origination of the word butterfly. The switching of the letters seems applicable too. spoonerism:murder spelled backward is Redrum 
Also, the excruciating came about for a specific reason, do know what that was? if so or if not, would you use that as a topic? Thanks
I like the butterflies on the butter left overnight the best. Whether tht true or not is pretty much ‘butterschjst’ to me.
i believe #1 is the answer: Spoonerism
EC. Is the bean dizzy, which is a spoonerism of Is the dean busy
Here is a spoonerism game. Can you come up with the spoonerism for these sentences?
The acrobats displayed some cunning stunts.
Sir, you are certainly a shining wit.
He fills her soul with hope.
It’s the Tale of Two Cities.
Have you brought your sleeping bag?
She is sure pretty.
Have you seen her sick duck?
Oh, the suffering of perjury on my soul!
He’s a pheasant plucker.
She showed me her tool kits.
He’s a smart fella.
A hot pie would make me happy.
Fire truck.
Ha!
Ok, most of those I don’t want to be the one to type out, but yeah… most of them I get.
Still trying the figure the “Ha!” one out! Just kidding.. some don’t really work though.. tale of two cities.. she is sure pretty.. fire truck??? I don’t know.. hmm…
Ha! — dirty spoonerisms….
The ones you were trying to figure out are:
Sale of two titties….
She is pure shitty…
Tire fuck
Hey Marina,
Do I get a prize for my cool spoonerisms?
I don’t need much, maybe just a “bump on the head.”
so, where did the r go in the last two?
sure pretty –> prure shitty / pure shritty?
fire truck –> tire fruck / trire fuck?
You know, sometimes these spoonerism type slips of the tongue just happen at the wrong times. My wife and I were having dinner, and mean to say, “can you please pass the salt,” and and came out, “you fucking bitch! you ruined my life!”
aLx – I think a spoonerism, while generally being the transposition of initial sounds, can also be the transposition of other sounds as well. So, we need not have an exact swapping of sounds, letter for letter.
Marina, How about the word Gosh? As in gosh darn it!
You are fantastic!!!
Well, I’m going to have to vote as it’s a spoonerism, that was my first thought, having seen some of the comments (I read fast enough that even a glance, it’s really hard to NOT read the comments as I scroll down), I think I might be wrong
WORD REQUEST: Bigot
edit:
The term butterfly derives from the fact that they hover over pails of butter, cream and milk. Oxford dictionary.
btw, i couldn’t help but notice that one of your blue morpho picture fluttering about is taken from the wikipedia article.
spoonerism: to quote Rev. Spooner: Dear old queen = Queer old dean.
Hi Marina,
I was talking with my wife, regarding my grandmother. Her name was Margaret, but everyone called her Peggy. I know that Peggy is supposedly short for Margaret, but why? Is it a foreign translation? It sure isn’t a shorter version.
Thanks!
i vote for #1 the other two seem to weird to be right
Spoonerisms
Named after the Rev. Spooner.
anyway…
Shining Wit
and Cunning Stunt
I believe that butterflies are named after the color of their excrement. But then, people say that I don’t know shit.
LostInHere
lostinhere, is it better to know sh*t.. or not know sh*t
That, Marina, is quite a good question, and raises another issue.
Why does the term, “stepped in shit” mean “experienced a stroke of good fortune.” Like, if someone gets an unmerited promotion at a job because their boss left unexpectedly, it would be said that he “stepped in shit.”
However, stepping in shit, while unexpected, would not seem to be a stroke of good fortune.
But, as for the question of whether it is better to know shit or not know shit. Well, there’s no real difference there. The important thing is to be able to tell “shit from shinola.” You might know shit, or you might not know shit, but as long as you don’t confuse it with shinola, then all is well. It’s almost as important as being able to tell your ass from a hole in the ground.
Hi hotforwords…
I can’t remember if I already asked… Where does the word Investigation come from
Just guessing I would pick #2, although oddly I say flutterby joking often.
aw crap, what I wanted to say yesterday:
I have seen butterfly feces some time ago. We were in that huge butterfly-house in the zoo when this HUGE blue thing landed on my girlfriends hand and just wouldn’t fly away. and then it “peed” on her. just a few drops of clearish liquid.
anyway, there were so many butterflies in that house that you would have noticed their feces somehow. But no butter there.
People try to say that butterflies excrete nothing.. but as you have seen, that is not the case
teh mystery!
maybe THEY try to hide something from us…
maybe butter isn’t made from milk…
maybe… it’s Butterflypoop!
omg! /me rethinks breakfast
Hey, Marina. Just learned about your site today. I was an English-Lit major through out college, but I always had an interest in etymology. I think the word tarantula is a name for a dance and also big hairy spiders. I’m fine with dancing, but not so much the spiders. I very arachnophobic. Am I mistaken? If not, how did the word come to be used for such different things. Thanks!
Hi, marina!
I like your style…sexy with a touch of brainy thing.
by the way I like to know why it is called ” goose bumps” when you feel
eerie.
thanks
So I understand your from Russia. What is your favorite Russian word that is commonly used in American English?
Answer #1 is my guess.
what is the origin of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
???
Did it already trumpet422
Check out the complete word list here: http://www.hotforwords.com/words
hey marina,
hope you see this.
i got a request.
how does the phrase birds and bees come along?
thanks ^^
kan u plsss do the work karma plssssssssssss
OK, one more request before jumping in the sack, What about “Breaking Wind” ? This could be really fun and God knows, you could have a hey day with the sound effects. Besides what guy doesn’t want to see a gorgeous woman talk about this subject? LOL
Man, in this post there are two other phrases here I would like to know about…”Hey Day” & “Jumping in the Sack” Anyway, have a great “Hump Day” (one more for the list, so make that three phrases)
luvs
Where did the phrase “Marco Polo” originate?
It is not a phrase but the name of a man!!!
What is the origin for the phrase LUCKY DOG?
Thanks Hot for Words!
Marina!!!- great lesson!!!! As always you bring interesting words out for the class ie.spoonerism- like a DragonFly? No?
I have to go with the first reason for the answer to this assignment
Hope you are well always,
nlsmafia2008
Soo how about the word orthodontic and/or orthopedic eh? eh? I’m thinking sweet deal. Also my name is Connor! I got a little gavitar of my work logo which is the summit at snoqualmie but I don’t know if it is showing or not So if it isn’t then Very angry sadface! >: (
Yay! Happy Face! : D It works!
Awesome!
I work as a road manager
for different shows across the country. I would love to know where the word “Tour” comes from. I am currently working on the gravatar as we speak so check back later. LOL I also agree with most every man on this site, You could stand on your head and everyone would stand up and pay attention 
. LOL speaking of….JK. 
luvs
Answer: #2
Word:hippopotamus
I believe certain European butterflies do have a tendency to drink milk and have butter-like excrement (but the real question is how would you know if it is in there?)
“I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy”
Maybe you need a vomiting gravatar?????
I believe it derives from the old Dutch word “boterschitjte” meaning the color of it’s excrement. I have been watching you podcast for the last two days and can’t download them fast enough. I love what you do and yes, “YOU” make it more fun to learn.
Luvs!
A word request im sure many would enjoy to hear is the most yummy of fruits the cumquat. I must admit it is one that sticks in your mind and begs the question where did they get that name???
I suppose the real puzzler however is the chicken and the egg theory here. Did the fruits name come first of the fun climax we all love and enjoy???
And of corse is there any correlation betwixt the two…hmmm. Teacher please help me solve this rubix cube of a problem so I might be wiser in perpetuity of your answer
I also left you a few other possibilities hidden in there
Hi, I would really appreciate it if you would do one of my favorite words of all time Hoopla.
Please and thank you
i think it is #1
cos’ i know butterfly don’t like to butter? or do they
XD i mean don’t like butter
If im not being too erroneous from this post Id like to ask your opinion on that fun little word. Besides its not one you hear every day now is it
The dictionary is curiously mum on this one. I like spoonerisms, but I have serious doubts there is one at play here. The fly in the butter theory sounds like a old folktale. I will go for the Dutch origin, not onl due to process of elimination (!) but also because I don’t think Marina would introduce a vulgar word meaning gratuitously.
Every time I try to add a gravatar, it wants to crop out most of the picture rather than shrink it. Any thoughts?
shrink the pic prior to cropping.
Thanks aLx – I am awaiting the arrival of my newly added gravatar.
Marina,
HotForWords is the hottest thing on the net next to words!
I am betting on spoonerism.
Cute outfit by the way. Here is my spoonerism: The cat saw a rat.
How about the origin of “Facetious.”
And by the wa here’s my gravatar!!! (It’s me playing soccer)
Awesome violaman!
wow so nice video!!! I think the right answer is the second one. Makes more sense…
Here’s my spoonerism:
The Lord is a shoving leopard(loving shepherd)
I haven’t been drinking occifer! Is that a spoonerism?
I think it might be an oonerspism.
It sounds like there may be an open bar at your April Fools Day party.
I was having my last drink before I hit the road and said, “Beertender! Give me another bar!” He said “you’ve had almost a case, already!” I replied, ‘24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day – coincidence? I don’t think so!” But, he kicked me out of the bar.
On my way to the next bar, I got pulled over by the police, and he walked up the car and asked, “can I see your porcelain bus driver’s license, please?” So, I handed it to him and I said, “Really ocifer, I’m not as think as you drunk I am. I’m not under the affluence of incohol at all. I’m as jober as a sudge!”
He didn’t believe me, and took me to the station for a blood test. He brought back the test results with a weird look on his face and said, ‘you’re blood is 100 proof!”
So, I had to admit it, “O.k., o.k., take me drunk, I’m home!”
He said, ‘you’re an alcoholic” and made me go to an AA meeting. I told him I didn’t have a prinking droblem, but he didn’t believe me. When I got to the meeting, everyone shouted, “Norm!” I stood up to introduce myself and said, “Hello, my name is…. uh… wait…ummm…”
Ha!
#2.
Runny Babbit = Bunny Rabbit
I have a Gravatar!, I hope I am not having copyright’s problems with EIDOS because I am using Hitman’s logo
Can barely make it out hitman.. I think you’re good for now.. until the real hitman comes after you!
What about the word “PLATE” as in you eat off a plate. I’ve heard of plates as in plate techtonics or diamond plated but whats up with plate as in what we eat off of.
big big kiss you flutterby
I’m thinking it’s theory number 2. One and three sound kind of ridiculous.
I suppose any saying can be spoonerisms if you flip the first letter around
like instead of take a shower, it’s “shake a tower”.
Now, how do I add my picture here?
Hooray it works
Wow.. you have a gravatar toysjoe! I am soooo excited!!!
I think that it’s theory number three.
I am 2/2 for the guess the answer games. I pick #1 because it seems the most plausible. I can see how the words can be switched around. The other two just sound too far fetched.
I was wrong !!
I think spoonerism is number 1
Sorry for the mistake. All the rest is all right, OF COURSE!!
Bye bye people by HOTFORWORDS
I support n.2
since I like spoonerism and the flutter is just a typical movement of the wings
Anyway, those beautiful bugs are fluttering by your beautiful body and I suppose that anyone of us would like to be one of them
Bye Bye my dear little butterfly, before I get all those butterflies in my stomach for envy
Compliments again for your spirit, your willing & your INTELLIGENCE. So long Miss& !! Taro might be proud of you !
hey yo i just wann say u had some nice friggin shades inna d last vid
second- i wuld like to know the meaning of the phrase “Dishing it out” and does it have anything to do with dishes in yur sink?
jamaica luvz ya marina! keep up d work and the good lookz!
I’ve got another word this one seems to come directly from italy.
Rigamarole
New request — derivation of expression “wet my/your whistle”.
Спасибо
Phil O’logist
definitely a spoonerism.
Can we do the words flotsam and jetsam please?
Hey Marina,
I would like to suggest the word Nigger often refered to as the “N” word.
I want to know, Why is it so bad to say? I just never got that.
As well as what does the word actually originate from?
Thanks so much
Jon
Test post.. trying out this gravatar thingy
Cool it works
You guys can add little pictures next to your comments now… go to the new help section.
Hi Maria,
Can you investigate the origin of phrase “Driving me nuts” it’s driving me really nuts.
I love your dance…………. More pleeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeee.
Kiss for the Kiss
Rajat
Hey Marina. I wanted to know where the phrase “To choke the Chicken,” came from. Also I got the april fools card you sent out and that was a great picture, but I think most of the people who subscribe do care about the origin, if not we’d be all looking at porn instead of being teased by you. Keep on rocking and I think ur evil twin should get her own show.
Touché, eddydraks.
i’m not sure if you’re referring to my April Fool’s Day card comment or not, but if you are, I was not in any way suggesting that the majority of subscribers did not genuinely care about etymology. You are absolutely right, eddydraks.
Great site and idea!!
Word Request : vituperative
keep up the great work!!
Mike
Hi Marina,
Love your show :0
I have a request for the word “WAKE” as in ceremony associated with death. What is the orgin of thise word?
Keep up the good work
Cheers!
Jeff
I have two separate words. Chivalry and Davenport (sofa)
I’m going to say it’s the first answer. It’s the only one of the three I’ve heard before. I love all your videos and lessons and I appreciated the card, but I just wish I had been the one to get the personalized card. Oh well maybe one day.
P.S.
Please tell me where I can find more of your pictures like the ones you’ve shown at the end of some of your videos with the kick ass rock music.
Dear Marina,
I was wondering if you knew the origin of the F word. It has so many different ways you can use it.
Your devoted Student,
Goodirishboy39
You’re my favorite teacher; I wish to give you an Apple. Where did the ideal of idea of giving teacher an apple come from? Some of your words are making you blush.
Maybe some of your students think that you are their 8th grade health class teacher? I am surprised that they have not ask for what does the “G” in G-spot and string stand for? 
Here is my question.
What is the seventh day of the week?
Why is it different Days in different places?
Dose the Weekend mean different days at different places too?
When I was visit France, I pick up some calendars as gifts to take home to Minnesota. But when I got home I notice that in France the last day of the week is Sunday? Here in America, the last day of the week is Saturday. My co-worker from Africa said that the week concludes on a Sunday there as well.
What day did God rest on when making the Earth? It was the seventh day of the week, right? Then God rested Saturday in America and Sunday in Africa.
Thank you for the April Fool’s Day card. The picture was a pleasant surprise, but I really would like to know the rest of the story about the 1564 French calendar. I did a bit of research on my own, and I discovered that the French phrase for the one being fooled is poisson d’avril, which translates to “April fish”. I believe that this has something to do with the zodiac sign Pisces. Could you please confirm this?
“Poisson” derives from the Latin word piscis, which means fish. “Pisces” derives from the same word. But since Pisces is not in April, I’m not sure there is a direct connection between the April Fool’s Day expression and the Pisces sign of the Zodiac.
Damn you, Wikipedia!
hello,
Here in France, we do “poisson d’avril” only on the 1st of April. We try to treak (oups spelling ?) people with wrong informations. Also children like to put drawing of fishes in the back of people trying not to be noticed.
Take care
Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Poisson?
What does crossing the Rubicon mean? I know it’s not a word but i’d really like to know what it means.
The Rubicon is a trail in northern california that is the ultimate four wheel drive experience. Only the best fourwheelers can cross it.
I thought a Rubicon is when you get so fed up with a Rubix cube that you peel the stickers off and put them on in proper order to “con” everyone into thinking you solved it – i.e. a Rubi-con. From the root words “Rubix” (Rubix Cube) and “con” (meaning to cunningly deceive).
I can only hope that you are just trying to be funny. If so? Well done, very clever. I only wish that I had thought of that.
um… yes…I was kidding.
hey… so the dancing… not that I’d insult the venerable HotForWords, but I’d recommend that you definitely shouldn’t quit the day job jk lol (I sense a significant share of your audience doesn’t care what you do as long as we/they get to watch you…).
Maybe it was the music jk can’t be hatin’ on Ronald Jenkees – maybe a dance beat and a strobe light would bring the best out of you (might I suggest the Eric Prydz remix of “Rocker” by Alter Ego?) (As of yet, I’m not aware of any Ronald Jenkees club beats, though he does have one video wherein he experiments with a couple of mixes, one of which borders dance club style… maybe you could woo him into doing one lol – I think you could convince him if you so desired)
I’ll like to know where does “Follow the yellow brick road” come from?
I can even here the white noise interference on the analog voice dub in the movie… “Somewhere….Over the rainbow”… It sounds like it was recorded separately on a record so much that I almost feel like I should hear the pin on the Victrola being dropped into place before the song (though to her credit and any singing/acting performer, it’s incredibly difficult for everything to fall into place at once in one try, especially when there’s a performance involved.
Anyhow, the movie is the Wizard of Oz, which, in addition to being one of the earlier movies to have sound played synchronously with the motion picture, was (I believe) the first movie to have color (hence the fact that they played up on the color world being an alternate universe of sorts, a strange new land so to speak)
The technicolor process for film was developed before 1920 and the first feature films to use this process along with syncronized sound were released in the late 1920’s. The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, so it was definitely not the first. As far as the yellow brick road… It was first used in L. Frank Baum’s childrens novel published in 1900 called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie is based on this and later books by Baum.
Now here is the Answer:
Butterflies were thought to land in kitchens and drink milk or butter left uncovered. This is supported by a German word for butterfly, milchdieb “milk-thief”.
So it turns out to be option 2.
A. Spoonerism
That’s what I’ve always heard. Besides they don’t eat butter. Margarine, maybe.
Da skorava
I agree with geronimo in that a butterfly is a spoonerism. Albeit, that I don’t know the answer, so that takes me out as Marina’s teacher assistant.
I think it might be theory #2.
Also, can you do a bit on the words “Adam’s Apple”?
I wondered if this had origins with the first man, Adam, and the supposed sinful fruit, an Apple.
Thanks
I’ll say number 3 because it sounds cooler
Butterfly? Thats nuckig futs, everybody knows its number one. And mark me down for digging your dancing too.
BobbyG
WOW!
You go girl, shake whatcha mama gave ya!!
I can’t believe I missed the calendar poll.
But I think you know how I’d have voted. 
I know this will be tough, but being a language geek myself, I would like to know more about this word…
Floccinaucinihilipilification
Did it already nick… check the word list: http://www.hotforwords.com/words
Hello Marina,
I love your videos. You are indeed intelligent and sexy.
I was wondering if you knew the origin of the word “equivocate” Please share
keep making videos !!
gang members use the word “hustler” a lot so i was just wondering where it came from
Hi Marina,
Long time viewer, third time requester.
I have a request for you, and I am kinda surprised it hasn’t been done yet. The word is “vice versa”
Thanks
oh man, firefox nightly crashing-galore!
had something written up, but now I’m going to make it short.
If you’re capable of understanding german, you might find the Grimm’s Wörterbuch interesting. You know them from the fairy tales they collected, but they also started work on a dictionary.
It also contains the word Schmetterling which is german for Butterfly.
And it solves the question.
#1 would have dropped out anyway, because the german word “schmettern” means dashing. and thats not what butterflies do. at all.
vindictive yah i wanna know about that one too lol oh an how about the zodiac names that would be interesting also
you mean the zodiak signs?
Gives me an idea:
Why is cancer (the illness) called like the crustacean?
yeah thats what id like to know like where did they get the idea for cancer and pieces
I second shane’s request for an explanation of the word “sundae”… is it related to the day at all?
Can you “investigate” the word Soccer?
Americans, unlike the rest of the world, use Soccer instead of Football. I just want to know who, what, where, and why.
Ever play Foosball? In America Football was played 1st, so we naturally named it soccer. I would have just named it kickball. But that’s just me.
so many words to ask for the history of what about the word fuck huh? i know its dirty but im curious cant help it
should be in one of the maxim radio shows she did. that’s the place to look for rather… dirty words.
thanks
I have some quite good spoonerisms really!
1st: It was used to say that “The Lord is a showing leopard”, somehow, someone mixed the the two words ’showing’ and ‘leopard’ and made it “loving shepherd”!
2nd: “Go shake a tower” –> “Go take a shower”
3rd: “Tale of two cities” –> “Sale of two titties”!
4th: “Hope in your soul” –> “Sope in your hole”!
5th: “Frontal Lobotomy” –> “Bottle in front of me”
PS: Keep on dancing Marina:) You’re good at it!
Håvard
i think it’s #3
I will guess the first one, the spoonerism.
Also, I have a bunch of requests that I have been meaning to send you for about a week now. (computer was down, Argh!)
1) Sundae, as in ice cream sundae. Does it have any connection to the day of the week? If so, why the different spelling?
2) Gift Horse, as in the expression “never look a gift horse in the mouth”. What is a gift horse, and what’s up with it’s mouth?
3) Resevation. It has two very different meanings. One, to make a reservation, like for dinner. Basically reserving something for you. Two, if you have reservations about something it means you are hesitant or not sure about it. How did this word come to have such different meanings?
4) Wholesale. Why is you get a bulk discount on something is it called wholesale? Is there something called a partsale? Why is full price referred to as retail?
5) I’m curious about the ‘Con’ prefix. If I’m not mistaken, Con means against or with out, and is the opposite of Pro. So there seems to be many words that start with Con that don’t fit their meaning.
For example, Contact. We use it as a term to describe two things coming together. But doesn’t it literally mean ‘without tact’ or ‘tact less’? Or what about Congress. Doesn’t that mean the opposite of Progress? So why did the founding fathers decide to use that as the name for the legislative branch?
6) The one I’m most curious about is the names of the months.
September is the 9th month, but the prefix Sept means 7. October is the tenth month, but Oct means 8. Same thing for Nov meaning 9 and Dec meaning 10.
I had heard that these are off because there used to only be 10 months, so September was the 7th month at one time, October was the 8th, and so on. But July and August were added later to honor Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar to form the 12 month calendar we have today.
If true, I have two questions. First, why did they insert the two new months in the middle of the calendar instead of at the end so that the name of the months still corresponded to the number?
Second, why are the months from January to June not named to signify their number? (ie, why isn’t May called something like Pentember?)
I think that the names January, February, March, April, May, and June must come from the names of Gods. For example, March comes from the God Mars I believe. What are the other ones?
Thank you my beautiful teacher!
Shane
PS – Where does April Fool’s come from?
Not to spoil a possible answer from hotforwords but I couldn’t help but answer a couple.
2)Every rural person knows horses teeth keep growing their whole lives. The front teeth slope forward to still fit in the mouth as they get older. It would be unkind to check the age, or value, of a gift; just be glad they gave you something!
5)Con also means “together with” as the confluance of two rivers means the act of “together with, flow-ance”.
About Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, where would you put a couple of months named after the rulers of the world other than in the middle of the summertime. It was just a matter of common sense back then. No bout adought it.
This hypothesis only has a puncher’s chance (from where did this phrase originate?) of being correct, but my guess is that sundae came from the fact that Sunday used to be the only day that most Christian families (working class=majority) had a decent meal, which probably featured a tasty dessert. I have absolutely zero factual information as of yet to back this up, though (except my Dad’s story of Sunday dinners and cube steaks/pork roasts “back when [he] was a kid” lol).
A “sundae” is definitely related to Sunday. In the past it used to be illegal to sell many things, so called “blue laws”. One of those things was soda water (so sinful, you know). So, on Sunday one could not purchase an ice cream soda.
In Two Rivers, WI a man with a soda fountain began to sell a scoop of ice cream topped with chocolate sauce on Sunday as an alternative. And that became known as the Sunday treat. I don’t remember if the spelling changed right away, but it did and there’s your sundae.
Another 5 star lesson!
We already know you are intelligent, sexy and funny…
But now we find out you are a talented artist as well…
Next, are you going to tell us you are a part time brain surgeon or that you have won a Nobel Peace Prize?
My head is spinning.
Anyway, my guess is #2 since I have been told that one in the past, but I’m not sure if it is folk etymology?
Also, as a former history teacher you might like this spoonerism, since it also describes what some may be doing after this video:
You hissed all my mystery lectures
Woo hoo.. JD has a gravatar as well!!!
Here’re my spoonerisms:
Is that a well oiled bicycle or a well-boiled icicle? Well that’s a blushing crow, er, I mean a crushing blow.
I swear to tell the truth, go help me sod… er… I mean so help me god!
#1
the other one sounds wrong, especially as we have another insect called butter-fly “smör fluga” in Sweden. ;P.
p.s. yeah more dancing!
I mean it is hard to not accompany you, in the dancing.
*feel silly dancing with a video* ;P
I’ll go with the fact that butterflies were thought to consume butter or milk that was left uncovered.
They say witches used to disguise themselves as butterflies to get to the butter (so I guess they would be witches that are the spitting image of butterflies). I drank the Hotforwords Kool-Aid a long time ago apparently. My balls are philologically to the wall.
By the way, Marina, you look fantastic in that little outfit. Your boyfriend, whoever he is, is a lucky guy.
Actually butterflies don’t “eat” they drink all of their food, in the form of nectar, through a modified mouth-tube called a probiscis or galea.
I like the idea about the flies getting caught in the butter overnight.
here’s my spoonerism: bass ackwards
I’m going to guess the second reason.
1) butter was not put out on the window, melting issue.
2) the amount of waste a butterfly would remove would be rather hard to see.
Besides it would fit into your teaching style.
X0’s
P.s. How did we get X’s and O’s
P.S.S. You seem to missing a X lesson according to your list. ;>)
Hello Marina,
I think that #2 is the correct one.
P.S.
More dancing please
oops
I’m an April Fool
I meant #1
A. Spoonerism
yeah what is a Spoonerism????
The reverend Spooner had a habit of swapping the beginnings of words, so “One fell swoop” would become “One swell foop”. Originally they were called “flutter-by’s” and became “butter-fly’s” (butterflies).